Home Counties Premier League Division 1: Banbury's attempt to get their season back on track was thwarted by the weather after their bowlers had given them a good chance of victory against Radlett on Saturday.

The Hertfordshire visitors, who last week got the better of a draw against champions High Wycombe, elected to bat and began well.

An opening stand of 62 in 18 overs put them in command as the Banbury bowlers struggled to find line and length in the cold, breezy conditions.

The introduction of Simon Launder and Paul Hill put the brake on the scoring, but Radlett's lunch score of 108-1 from 34 overs still put them in a strong position.

After the interval, Paul Taylor and Jimmy Phillips combined to put a stranglehold on the batsmen at a time when they should have been accelerating, 16 overs producing only 21 more runs before rain interrupted proceedings.

The loss of 50 minutes left Radlett only eight further overs from which they plundered another 68 runs, opener Graham Dill making 103 before being unluckily run out.

Phillips's fine spell of bowling brought him figures of 4-57 and a target of 198 at a fraction more than four runs an over left Banbury in optimistic mood.

After a slow start, Chris Smith and Craig Haupt were building a sound base to the innings when the rain arrived half an hour before tea and brought a disappointing early end.

RADLETT

N Hampton b Launder...32

G Dill run out...103

S Lowe c Taylor b Phillips...14

K Smith b Phillips...8

K Marc b Phillips...10

J Freedman c Haupt b Phillips...7

J Smithers not out...6

I Edwards not out...1

Extras...20

Total (6wkts, 58 ov)...197

Fall: 1-62, 2-119, 3-142, 4-160, 5-176, 6-192.

Bowling: Taylor 17-4-62-0, Rorich 5-1-15-0, Launder 9-2-15-0, Beck 4-0-19-0, Hill 6-1-16-0, Phillips 17-6-57-4.

BANBURY

I Tew run out...0

C Smith not out...15

C Haupt not out...10

Extras...2

Total (1 wkt, 10.2 ov)...27

Fall: 1-1.

Bowling: Marc 5.2-2-15-0, Smith 3-1-5-0, Edwards 2-0-6-0.

Banbury 6pts, Radlett 6